Building construction.



c. J. PERKINS.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 3,1913.

2 SHBETB-SHEET 1.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

C. J. PERKINS.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1913.

1 ,081 ,864, Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

'onrrnn stares PATENT oiuucn.

CHARLES J. PERKINS, 0F MANITOU, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0 JOHNT. M. JOHNSTON AND ONE-THIRD T0 JAMEEl F. HOLDEN, BOTH OF KANSAS CITY,

MISSOURI.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1 6,1 913.

Application filed March 3, 1913. Serial No. 751,956.

To lll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES J. lunmxs, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Manitou, county of El laso, and State ofColorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BuildingConstruction, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in building blocks and has for itsobject the production of a structure which will be durable andeconomical in construction, and which may be readily and expeditiouslyerected.

A further object is the production of a building structure especiallyadapted for use in the construction of silos.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a silo embodying my invention, Figs. 2and 3 are enlarged perspective views of one of the blocks employed inthe silo shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section of aportion of the lateral wall of the silo, the section being taken on linem m of Fig. 5, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line y-y of Fig.at, and Fig. 6 is a sectional detail of one of the joints shown in Fig.4.

The preferred form of construction as illustrated in the drawings isembodied in a silo 1 which is of the usual cylindrical form. Said silois constructed of blocks 2 which are formed of concrete or othersuitable plastic material. Each of the blocks 2 is formed with its outerand inner surfaces parallel and with its lateral edges tapering from thecenter of the block toward the re-- spective ends thereof, the resultingblock being of a double-wedge-shaped form.

In constructing the silo the blocks 2 are arranged edge to edge oneabove the other in parallel vertical lines, the joints of adja centlines alternating or being staggered, as shown. The peripheral edges ofthe lower portion of each of the blocks 2 are formed with outwardlyprojecting beads 3, and the peripheral edges of the upper end portion ofeach block are formed with recesses 01' grooves 4 as clearly shown inFigs. 2 and 3. When the blocks are arranged in operative position toform a structure, the beads 3 of each block will engage the recesses Iof the contiguous edges of adjacent blocks, as clearly shownin Figs. 4,5 and (S. The heads 3, however, are of cross-scctional dimensionsconsiderably less than the corresponding di mensions of the recesses -'land so that when the blocks are arranged in superimposed relation oredge to edge, semi-circular spaces will be formed for the reception ofmortar or other plastic material which is used in uniting the blocks.The edge surfaces of each of the blocks 2 bearing the heads 3 arerounded as at 5, as shown in Fig. 6 for en gagement with thecorrespondiuglv curved.

surfaces 6 formed at the edge surfaces of each block bearing therecesses t. iVith this arrangen'icnt angular adjustment of adiacentblocks in order to adapt the same for use in the formation of silos ofdifferent diameters is made possible.

The structure which is formed by the blocks 2, when a silo isconstructed, is reinforced by encircling metallic hands 7 which are.spaced vertically about the silo structure as shown in Fig. 1. In orderto receive the reinforcing bands 7 each of the blocks 2 is provided inits outer surface with a central transversely extending groove orchannel 8 and at its extremities with grooves or recesses 9. lVhen theblocks are arranged as shown annular grooves or channels are formedabout the silo construction for the reception of the bands 7. Saidgrooves or channels are of cross sectional dimensions greater than thecorresponding dimensions of said bands for the reception of sealingmaterial 10, preferablv mortar, which is arranged in said grooves orchannels over said bands in order to protect the latter against theweather and fire. The sealing material is troweled o'fl flush with theouter surfaces of blocks 2, and so that when the silo is complete, theouter surfaces thereof will be smooth and even.

A silo or other similar structure which is constructed as described willbe found to be extremely strong and durable. By forming the blocks 2with their respective ends tapering as described, in placing the blocksin position, during the building operation, the three edges of the endwhich is inserted into position between the upper ends of blocks nextlower will not contact with the corresponding edges of said lower blocksuntil the former is practically in operative position. This, as will beunderstood is not the case where the lateral edges of the blocks used inthe building are parallel since, where the lateral edges are parallel,the latter will contact with the adjacent edges of the upper ends of thenext lower blocks between which it is desired to insert the lower end ofthe former, immediately upon the lower end of the block being insertedpassing below the upper extremities of thc blocks between which theformer is being inserted. The present construction is of advantage inthat with this arrangement the mortar which has been placed upon theedges which it is desired to unite will not be scraped or disturbeduntil the block is practically in its operative position. \Yhere thelateral edges of the blocks are parallel, the mortar which has beenarranged upon the edges of the lower end por tion of the block beinginserted and upon the corresponding edges of the slot or opening intowhich said end of said block is to beinserted, is disturbed and scrapedfrom position before the block reaches its operative position. With thepresent construction an effectual seal is rendered possible, this beingnot the case where the lateral edges of the blocks employed in thebuilding are parallel since in the latter case it is almost impossibleto secure an even distribution of the mortar or sealing material alongthe edges united. Through the provision of annulargrooves or channelsfor-the reinforcing bands in which a plastic sealing material may bearranged to cover the bands, corrosion of the latter is absolutelyprevented and hence the life of the silo ex tended.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation andmodification without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A structure formed of -superimposed blocks arranged edge to edge,each of said blocks being of elongated form with the lateral edges ofthe respective ends thereof tapering from the center of the block towardthe extremities thereof; beads provided at the peripheral edges at oneend of the block; and recesses provided at the peripheral edges of theother end of said block, the beads of each block engaging the recessesof menace the contiguous edges of adjacent blocks, stantially asdescribed.

2. A structure formed of superimposed blocks arranged edge to edge, eachof said blocks being of elongated form with the lateral edges of therespective ends thereof tapering from the center of the block toward theextremities thereof; beads provided at the peripheral edges at one endof the block; and recesses provided at the peripheral edges of the otherend of said block, the'beads of each block engaging the recesses of thecontiguous edges of adjacent blocks, said beads being of cross-sectionaldimensions considerably less than the corresponding dimensions of saidrecesses, substantially as described.

3. A structure formed of superimposed blocks arranged edge to edge, thejoints of adjacent lines of blocks being staggered, the outer surface ofeach of said blocks being provided with recesses at the respective endsand intermediate the ends thereof, the recesses intermediate the ends ofeach block registering with the recesses at the contiguous ends ofadjacent blocks whereby,

when said blocks are 1n operative position, circumferential grooves willbe formed in the structure registering with the respective ends andintermediate the ends of each block; and reinforcing bands encirclingsaid structure arranged in said grooves, substantially as described.

4. A structure formed of superimposed blocks arranged edge to edge, eachof said blocks being formed with its opposite ends tapering, the jointsof adjacent lines of said blocks being staggered, the outer surface ofeach of said blocks being provided with recesses at the respective endsand intermediate the ends thereof, the recesses intermediate the ends ofeach of said blocks registering with the recesses at the contiguous endsof adjacent blocks whereby, when said blocks are in operative position,circumferential grooves will be formed in the structure registering withthe respective ends and intermediate the ends of each block; reinforcingbands encircling said structure arranged in said grooves, said recessesbeing deeper than the thickness of said bands; and sealin materialarranged in said recesses over sai bands to completely inclose thelatter, substantially as described.

5. A structure formed of superim osed blocks arranged edge to edge, each0 said blocks being formed with its opposite ends tapering; t e edges atone end of each pf said blocks being formed with outwardly projectingbeads, of said blocks being formed with recesses, the beads of one blockengaging the recesses of the contiguous edges of adjacent blocks, saidbeads being of cross-sectional dimensions considerably less than the ingdimensions of said recesses, the contactsubthe edges at the other endcorresponding portions of the contiguous edge surfaces of said blocksbeing corres ondingly rounded to permit of angular a justment of saidblocks, substantially as described.

6. A structure formed of superimposed blocks arranged edge to edge, eachof said blocks being formed with its opposite ends tapering, the edgesat one end of each of said blocks being formed with outwardly projectingbeads, the edges at the other end of each of said blocks being formedwith my cesses, the beads of one block engaging the recesses of thecontiguous edges of adjacent blocks, said beads being of cross-sectionaldimensions considerably less than the dimensions of said recesses, thecontacting portions of the contiguous edge surfaces of said blocks beingcorrespondingly rounded, one

- being concave and the other convex, in order to permit of angularadjustment of said blocks, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. J. PERKINS.

Witnesses: I

JOSHUA R. H. Po'r'rs, HELEN F. LILLIB.

